The Hallowed Halls of Oxford, Or Should I Say Hogwarts

It was once said by William Butler Yeats, "I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful.  One almost expects the people to sing instead of speaking.  It is all like an opera."  After my day trip to this famous university, I couldn't agree more.  The city filled with academics and gorgeous architecture topped with spires has such an inspiring air about it.

Prior to reaching the city of Oxford, we stopped in the little town of Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds.  This area of western England is known for its gentle hillsides, or wolds, and spectacular rivers and countryside, woven together like a patchwork quilt.  The bus ride into this town was absolutely breathtaking.  The countryside was covered by a light haze due to the elevation of the city of Bourton-on-the-Water.  Our guide for the day, Penny, described that the historic towns in this area all were filled with beautiful honey colored limestone buildings.  She also said that the area was once well-known for sheep-farming.  The woolen trade and farmers brought in much of the wealth that is still visible today in the churches and manor houses.

When we arrived in the town, I headed for the town center with my friends Katherine and Angela.  Bourton-on-the-Water was very quaint and adorable.  A gentle river runs straight through the city center and many foot bridges cross the shallow water.  With blooming trees and ducks swimming in the creek, it was a picture perfect spring setting.  After stopping at a small cafe to grab some fish and chips that were suggested by Penny, we strolled along the trickling water and cobblestone streets.  We stopped in to a local craft fair and sweet shop and had a photo shoot along the river.

View of the river in Bourton-on-the-Water

Beautiful blooming trees

Next, we came across some sheep in a pasture and being that this area is known for its sheep farming we couldn't help but snap a few pictures.

Our final stop in the city was the Dragonfly Maze which was designed by Kit Williams.  It is a maze filled with clues that you need to uncode and piece together to discover the golden dragonfly within the circular house located at the center of the hedge maze.  We had lots of fun running through the maze discovering the clues.  In the end, we didn't find all of the pieces of the puzzle but we were able to find the golden dragonfly. Of course, I can't tell you how as I don't want to ruin the surprise for those of you who may visit someday.

Katherine was ready to go

We found the building!

Cracking the code

Following our adventure in the maze we made our way back to the bus to travel onwards to Oxford.

The city of Oxford is found in the region of Oxfordshire in western England.  Oxford University, which was founded in 1249, is made up of 38 different colleges, each with unique character and traditions.  It received royal approval so that potential student rebellions over academic and religious matters would take place far away from London.  Cambridge was also granted approval at this time for the same reason.

We began our visit in Oxford with a walking tour led by Penny.  First, she showed us the Martyr's Monument which was created in remembrance of the bishops Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, and Thomas Cranmer, who were burned at the stake for their religious beliefs and teachings.  Around the corner from the memorial, an X on the ground marks the location where they were killed.

Martyr's Memorial

Continuing on, Penny pointed out the old examination hall, where students would take their semester exams in Latin, and the graduation hall, which was Sir Christopher Wren's first public exhibition of architecture.

Examination Hall

Sir Christopher Wren's first building

Following Penny's tour we moved on to see Christ Church College which is famous for its Dining Hall, Cathedral, and especially for its connections to Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter! 

Exterior of Christ Church College

Christ Church Quad

Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) was a tutor at Christ Church who befriended the daughters of the Dean of the school, Henry Liddell.  He was especially fond of Liddell's daughter Alice who became the basis for the main character of his novel. The Dining Hall features portraits on the windows of Carroll's characters and it is known that the White Rabbit in the book was based on Alice's father the Dean, who left dinner every night down a narrow spiral stair -- hence the rabbit hole.

My attachment to this place was of course based on its connections to Harry Potter.  Being somewhat of a Potter fanatic, it was beyond exciting to get to see the Dining Hall on which the Great Hall in the movies is modeled after. Nearly every college tour that I went on in the States claimed that it had some part of campus that resembled this room, but this was the real thing!  When they were creating the set for the movies they came here and took very detailed notes of the style and layout of the room and then created a set based on its exact design.  I couldn't help but imagine all of the Hogwarts houses sitting at their respective tables with the professors overlooking from the head elevated table.  Besides this connection, it was still a beautiful room which featured many gorgeous portraits, exquisite glass windows, and a stunning wooden ceiling. 

Dining Hall/Great Hall

Many scenes from the first two Harry Potter movies were filmed in other locations around the school.  The steps leading up to the Dining Hall were the steps leading up to the Great Hall in Hogwarts where Professor McGonagall meets the first year students and the arched windows along the cloisters were used for many hallway scenes.

All ready to be sorted

Halls of Hogwarts

After seeing these locations, we saw the Cathedral which is one of the smallest Anglican cathedrals in all of England.  It also is the only church in the world to be both a cathedral and a college chapel. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful stained glass and decorative altar.

Inside Christ Church Cathedral

After leaving Christ Church, we stopped at Pieminster in the Covered Market to find a snack before heading back into London.

Overall, I had an awesome day!  It was great to see both the Cotswolds and Oxford.  Both filled with spectacular, inspiring beauty, it is easy to see why these locations are such a draw for visitors to England. All in all, I had my fix of sheep, cute villages, and the hallowed halls of Oxford, or should I say Hogwarts. Mischief Managed!